'SWEET VIOLETS ' ~ KENTUCKY DERBY BOURBON CHOCOLATE TORTE with CANDIED VIOLETS

"Violet! sweet violet!

Thine eyes are full of tears;

Are they wet

Even yet

With the thought of other years?"

~ James Russell Lowell

~ Sweet Violets

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KENTUCKY DERBY BOURBON CHOCOLATE TORTE

~ adapted treasured 10 year old recipe clipped from Southern Living and repeat from last year.
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12 (1-oz) chopped semisweet chocolate squares
1 (16-oz) finely ground package pecan shortbread cookies
1 1/2 cups soft unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
12 large organic eggs
1/3 cup bourbon
1 Tbsp. powdered sugar

Bourbon Cream Sauce

Candied Violets

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Grease 9-inch springform pan and line with greased parchment paper
Place ground cookies in large bowl.
Microwave chocolate pieces at MEDIUM (50% power) in glass bowl for 2 minutes or until melted, stirring after 1 minute.
Process butter, sugar, and eggs in food processor until smooth, stopping once to scrape down sides. Add bourbon and chocolate; process until blended. Fold into ground cookies. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour. (Torte will appear cracked and dry but won't test done.)
Cool in pan for 30 minutes. Cover and chill overnight or for at least 8 hours. Remove from pan and sprinkle with powdered sugar and cover with sprinkled Candied Violets. Surround the cake with red rose buds. Slice and serve with Bourbon Cream Sauce on the side.

BOURBON CREAM SAUCE

2 large beaten organic eggs
3/4 cup half & half
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. bourbon

Cook eggs, half & half, and sugar in saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly for 5 minutes or until candy thermometer registers 160-degrees and mixture thickens. Remove from heat and stir in bourbon.

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CANDIED VIOLETS

~ Takes a little patience but worth the effort. Try also with pansies, rose petals, apple blossoms, scented geraniums, Johnny-jump ups, borage, etc.
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Rinsed and dried UNSPRAYED flower blossoms, separated from stem
1 extra-large room temperature egg white
few drop of water (or vodka ~ helps to dry faster)
1 cup superfine sugar
(if you can't find superfine, process regular sugar in blender or food processor
for a minute or two)
small paint brush

Combine egg white with water in small bowl. Whisk lightly until white shows a few bubbles. Place sugar in shallow dish. Hold flower petal in one hand, dip paint brush into egg white with the other and gently paint the flower on both sides (don't overdo). Sprinkle with sugar on both sides.
Place flower on waxed paper to dry until completely free of moisture, flipping over occasionally. This usually takes 12-36 hours depending on humidity. (Can place in 150-degree with oven with door ajar for a few hours.)

Note: Dried properly, flowers will keep for several months.

AUTUMN DINNER ~ ROASTED SAGE SPAGHETTI SQUASH With GUYERE, SAUTÉED FRESH GARLIC, PARSLEY and TOASTED PINE NUTS

“Welcome sweet November, the season of senses and my favorite month of all.” ― Gregory F. Lenz November Sunset (Hubbard Lake, MI) ROASTED SAGE SPAGHETTI SQUASH With GUYERE, SAUTÉED FRESH GARLIC, PARSLEY and TOASTED PINE NUTS ~ Delightful autumn dinner slightly adapted from pinch of yum . 1 halved and seeded spaghetti squash Extra-virgin olive oil coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste 2-3 minced cloves garlic 2 tsp. white balsamic vinegar 1 cup minced fresh parsley 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh sage or 2 tsp. dried 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese 1/2 - 3/4 cup toasted pine nuts Preheat oven to 375º. Rub squash with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Place cut side down on sprayed rimmed baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes or until fork tender. Let cool until able to handle and scrape inside with a fork and pull strands away from ski...

SUMMERTIME ... AND THE LIVIN' IS EASY ~ SPICY PULLED PORK & COLE SLAW / BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE

"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken." ~James Dent LILIUM / LILIUM / STOKESIA ( BLUE DANUBE) DAYLILY /FROG STUPOR/ ASTILBE DAISY/ MONARDA / DAYLILY _____________________ SPICY PULLED PORK ~ A must-have for simple summer suppers adapted from a Detroit Free Press clipping __________ 4-5 lbs. pork shoulder blade Boston roast or trimmed pork tenderloins 12 sandwich rolls or good hamburger buns Rub: 1/4 cup brown sugar 3 Tbsp. favorite chili powder 2 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. Hungarian Paprika 1/2 tsp. coarse salt 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 2 tsp. garlic powder 2 tsp. onion powder Sauce: 3 cup (or more as needed) favorite barbecue sauce 1/2 cup brown or yellow mustard 3 Tbsp. Tabasco sauce (or to taste) juice of 1 lemon Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Trim most of fat from roast, remove bone and separate into 2 pieces (pork tenderloins work well and less work). Combine rub ingredients in small...

FIRE TO WARM THE SOUL & BODY ~ SOUPE A L'OIGNON GRATINEE (FRENCH ONION SOUP)

" The sun broke like an egg into a full sunset and the water caught fire." ~ Pamela Johnson January sunset (Hubbard Lake) __________________ SOUPE A L'OIGNON GRATINEE (adapted from Mastering the Art of French Cooking ) “Onion soup sustains. The process of making it is somewhat like the process of learning love. It requires commitment, extraordinary effort, time, and will make you cry." ~ Ronni Lundy _________________________________________ (FRENCH ONION SOUP) 6 pounds thinly sliced yellow onions 6 Tbsp. butter 3 Tbsp. oil 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. sugar 6 heaping Tbsp. flour 5 quarts good beef stock 2 cups dry white wine coarse salt and cracked pepper few drops of Kitchen Bouquet 12 Tbsp. Cognac 1 pound Swiss cheese* 1 - 1 1/2 pound assorted shredded cheddar, Colby and Swiss or Parmesan Cook onions slowly in butter and oil in covered stockpot for 15 minutes. Uncover, raise heat to moderate , and stir in salt and sugar. Cook for 30-40 minutes stirring frequently until on...

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